Tilt-back chair construction



Sept. 19, 1961 Filed March 2, 1959 H.- D. CROY TILT-BACK CHAIR 'CQNSTRUCTICN ZSheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Sept. 19, 1961 Filed March 2, 1959 H. D. CROY 3,000,668

TILT-BACK CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HOWARD D; CROY BY 027W #Mu ATTORNEYS 3,000,668 v TILT-BAfZK CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Howard D. fishy, RD. 3, Blufiton, Ind. Filed Mar. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 796,521 1 Claim. (Cl. 297-320) This invention relates to tilt-back chairs, and more particularly to a chair construction of the type in which the seat portion is raised responsive to backward tilting of the back rest portion.

In the design of reclining or tilt-back chairs in which the back rest portion may be pivoted or tilted rearwardly to a reclining position, it has been found desirable to provide for simultaneous upward pivotal motion of the rear end of the seat portion as the back rest portion is tilted backward; such simultaneous pivotal motion of the seat portion has been found necessary for greatest comfort and also to prevent upward gathering or bunching of the occupants clothes. Numerous types of such tilt-back chair constructions have been proposed, as shown for example in the present applicants Patent No. 2,190,401 and in Patent No. 2,738,000 to Homer Niederhauser. However, such prior tilt-back chair constructions known to the present applicant have employed relatively complex mechanical linkages and thus their cost has been prohibitive. Furthermore, many such prior tilt-back chair constructions have not been sufiiciently rugged to withstand long continued use. In addition, it is desirable to provide a construction in which the mechanismis resiliently urged toward its upright position so that less elfort is required from the occupant in arising from the full reclining position.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to'provide an improved tilt-back chair construction of the type in which the seat portion is raised simultaneously with lowering of the back rest portion.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved tilt-back chair construction in which the tilting mechanism is less complex than prior to the present applicant.

' A further object of my invention is to provide an improved tilt-back chair construction characterized by the simplicity and ruggedness of its tilting mechanism.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an improved tilt-back chair construction incorporating means for resiliently urging the tilting mechanism so that the back rest and seat portions are in their normal, i.e., up right positions.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claim annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In accordance with the broader aspects of my invention, I provide a tilt-back chair construction having a stationary base with a pair of transversely spaced apart upwardly extending side portions each having a bearingforming opening formed therethrough with the openings being in transverse alignment. A back rest frame is provided disposed between the side portions for pivotal motion in a vertical plane and a seat frame is provided supported on the base and also arranged for pivotal' motion in a vertical plane. The tilting mechanism in accordance with my invention comprises a pair of pivot members respectively journalled in the side portion openings, a pair of lever members each having one end attached to the back rest frame and being attached intermediate its ends to a respective pivot member so as pivotally to support the back rest frame from the side portions, a pair of links respectively connecting the other ends of the lever members and the seat frame so that constructions known backward pivoting of the back rest frame causes simultaneous upward pivoting of the seat frame, and a pair of coil springs respectively disposed on the outer sides of the side portions with each having its inner end connected to the respective one of the lever or pivot members and its outer end connected to the respective side portion thus resiliently urging the back rest and seat portions to their most vertical and lower-most positions respectively.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tilt-back chair frame construction incorporating my invention with the back rest and seat portions being respectively shown in their normal, i.e., most forward and lower-most positions;

' FIG. 2 is a broken away view of the chair of FIG. 1 showing the back rest and seat portions respectively in their fully reclined positions;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2; and

the line FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective. further illustrating the improved tilting mechanism of my.

tively attached to the inner sides of side members 12 and," 13 by anysuitable means, such as by bolts 19 adjacent,

rear member. 15 and extend upwardly therefrom as shown. Each of the side panels 17 and 18 has a bearing-forming Opening 21 formed therein for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described, the openings 21 being in axial.

alignment.

A pair of conventional front arm rest supporting mem-. here 22 and 23 are attached to stationary base' 11 adjacent front end member 14 and arm rest members 24 and 25' extend between the upper extremities of side panels 17. and 18 and arm rest supporting members 22 and 23, as'

shown. A pair of side rails 26 and 27 respectively extend between the arm rest supporting members 22, and 23' and side panels 17, 18 in spaced parallel relationship with side members 12 and 13 of stationary base 11, as shown. The rear ends of the side rails 26 and 27 have their outer sides respectively cut-out or relieved, as at 28 and 29 so that they are in vertically spaced apart relationship with the inner sides of side members 12 and 13, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The rear ends of side rails 26 and 27 are respectively seated in notches 43 in stop members 31 and 32 and respectively abut the inner.

sides of side panels 17 and 18, as shown in dashed lines 44 in FIG. 5.

A generally rectangular seat frame 33 is provided having side members 34 and 35 and front and rear members, 36 and 37. Front member 36 of seat frame 33 is con-I nected to front member 14 of base frame 11 by means: of suitable hinges 38 thus permitting the rear end of seat frame 33 to pivot in a vertical plane. Particular reference to FIG. 3 will reveal that the outer sides of side members 34 and 35 of seat frame 33 respectively are spaced in-' wardly from the inner sides of side rails 26 and 27 thus permitting pivotal motion of seat frame 33 within side rails 26, 27 as revealed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A generally rectangular back rest frame 39 is provided having side members 40 and 41 and lower and upper endmembers 42 and 43, back rest frame 39 being disposed between side panels 17 and 18. Inspection of FIG. 3 will again reveal that the outer sides 40 and 41 of back rest frame 39 are spaced inwardly from the inner sides of Patented Sept. 19, 1961.,

back rest frame 39 to pivot upwardly between side rails 26 and 27 as revealed in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In order to provide the requisite tilting motion of back rest frame 39 in a vertical plane and the simultaneously pivotal motion of seat frame 33, the arrangement now to be described is provided. A pair of tubular pivot members 45 are provided respectively journalled in bearing forming openings 21 in side panels 17, 18, the pivot members 45 respectively having an am'al length generally extensive with the thickness of side panels 17, 13, as best seen in FIG. 4; tubular pivot members 45 may conveniently be sawed-otl sections of suitable metal tubing. A pair of lever members 46 and 47 are provided integrally joined at their rear ends by transverse connecting member 48 and respectively attached intermediate their ends to the inner ends of pivot members &5, as by welding at '49; lever members 46 and 47 and transverse connecting portion 48 may be conveniently formed of suitable metal strap. A pair of metal bracket members i. are provided respectively attached to the underside of transverse connecting member 48, as by welding at 52. As will best be seen in FIG. 2, transverse connecting member 48 extends under side members 48, 41 of back rest frame 39 with the bracket members 51 being respectively secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by suitable screws extending through holes 53 in strap members 51. It will now be readily seen that the arrangement of pivot members '45 in bearing-forming openings 21 in side panels 17, 18 and their attachment to side members 40, 41 of back rest frame 39 by means of lever members 46, 47 and connecting member 48 provides for pivotal support of the back rest frame 39 by the side panels '17 and 18.

'In order to provide for raising of the rear end of seat frame 33 in the direction shown by the arrow 54 simultaneously with tilting of back rest frame 53 in the direction shown by the arrow 55 in FIG. '2, and vice versa, a pair of metal link members 56 and 57 are provided "respectively pivotally connected at their upper ends to the outer ends of lever members 46, 47. The lower ends of the link members 56, 57 are in turn respectively pivotally connected to transverse connecting member 58, also formed of metal strap. It will now be seen that the link members 56, 57 respectively extend downwardly in the spaces defined between the outer sides of cut-out portions 28, 29 of side rails 26, 27 and the inner sides of side members 12 and 13 of stationary base 11, transverse connecting member 58 extending under and supporting sides 34, 35 of seat frame 33. It is seen that the'lever members 46, 47 are respectively curved outwardly adjacent their ends, as at 59, in order properly to position link members 56, 57 outwardly of cut-out portions 28, 29 of side rails 26, 27 and inwardly from the inner sides of the side members 12 and 13. it will now be seen that tilting of'back rest frame 39 in the directionshown by the arrow 55 in FIG. 2 through the intermediary of lever members 46, 47 and links 56, 57 causes simultaneous 11pward pivotal motion of seat frame 33 in the direction shown by the arrow 54, and vice versa. It will further be seen that in the fully reclined position as best seen in FIG. 2, end member 42 of back rest frame 39 engages end member '37 of seat frame 33 thus limiting further movement of the back rest frame 39 and the seat frame 33 re- SpectiveIy in the direction shown by the arrows 55 and 54. In order to limit movement of the back rest frame 39 and the seat frame 33 in the opposite direction, in directions respectively opposite those shown by the arrows 55 and 54, stop members 31 and 32 are provided arranged so that their beveled upper edges 61 respectively engage curved portions 59 of -lever members 46, 47 as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.

In order to provide for resiliently urging back rest frame 39 and seat frame 33 toward their respective uppermost and lowermost positions, as shown in FIG. 1, a pair of flat coil springs 62 and 63 are provided respectively arranged on the outer sides of side panels '17, '18 and 4 abutting the outer ends of pivot member 45, as best seen in FIG. 4. A pair otpins 64 are provided coaxially disposed Within pivot members respectively having their inner ends secured to lever members 46, 47, as by welding and having their outer ends extending outwardly beyond the outer ends of the pivot members 45. The outer ends of the pins 64 are suitably slotted, as at 65 for receiving and retaining inner ends 66 of coil springs 62, 63. The outer ends 67 of coil springs 62, 63 are engaged by and restrained by suitable hook members 68 respectively attached to end members 63 which in turn are respectively secured to the rear edges of side panels l7, 13. In order to retain coil springs 62, 63 in the proper position, spring retaining members 71 and 72 are provided respectively secured to the outer sides of side panels 17, 18 in a suitable manner, as bysc'rews 73 'and're'spectively abutting the outer sides of the coil springs 62, 63. In order to dampen the action of coil springs 62, 63, I have found it desirable to provide suitable felt pads 74 held in frictional engagement with the outer surface of springs 62, 63 by retaining members Ti, 72. it will now be seen that. the action.

of the coil springs 62, 63 is in the direction respectively, to urge back rest frame '39 toward its uppermost position as viewed in FIG. 1 andot' course simultaneously to urge seat frame 33 toward its lowermost position, as also'view'ed in 'FIG. 1. Thus, tilting of back rest frame '39 toward its fully reclined position as shown in FIG. 2 with simultaneous raising of seat frame 33 tends to coil up coil springs 52, 63 so that when the occupant of the chair desires to restore the same to the normal position, merely raising up will permit theback rest and seat frames 39 and 33 to be restored to their normal positions under influence of coil springs 62, 63.

It will now be readily apparent that my improved tiltback chair construction not only incorporates an extremely simple and rugged tilting mechanism, but further that the mechanism is confined to a small area at the rear of the chair, thus, in contrast with numerous tilt-back v story, as was the case in many prior constructions.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of my invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art and I desire therefore in the appended claim to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope transverse alignment; a generally rectangular seat frame having its front end hingedly connected to the front end of said base frame whereby the rear end of said seat frame has pivotal motion in a vertical plane; and a tilting mechanism comprising a pair of pivot members respectively journaled in said side panel openings, each of :said pivot members being tubular and respectively having an axial length generally coextensive with the thickness of said side panels, a pair of lever members each being at tached intermediate its endsto an end of a respective pivot member on the inner side of the respective side panel, a-

transverse member rigidly connecting the rear ends of said lever members and being fixedly attached to the bottom edges of the sides of said back rest frame so that said back rest frame is pivotally supported by said side panels with the pivotal axis of said pivot members being spaced from the plane of said back rest frame, a pair of members respectively having their upper ends pivotally connected to the front ends of said lever members, a sec- I 0nd transverse member pivotally connected to the lower ends of said link members and attached to the bottom edges of the sides of said seat frame adjacent its rear end whereby backward pivoting of said back rest frame causes upward pivoting of said rear end of said seat frame and simultaneous upward movement of the lower end of said back rest frame, a pair of pins coaxially disposed in said pivot members each having one end attached to a respective lever member and its other end extending out of the other end of the respective pivot member on the outer side of the respective side panel, a pair of coil springs respectively abutting the other ends of said pivot members on the outer sides of the respective side panels, each of said springs having its inner end connected to the other end of a respective pin, a pair of members respectively engaging the other ends of said springs and respectively attached to said side panels whereby said springs resiliently urge said back rest and seat frames to their most vertical and lowermost positions respectively,

a pair of spring retaining members respectively engaging 20 the outer sides of said springs and respectively attached to said side panels, and a pair of stop members respectively attached to the front edges of said side panels and respectively adapted to engage said lever members thereby to limit forward pivoting of said back rest frame, the lower end of said back rest frame engaging the rear end of said seat frame thereby limiting backward pivoting of said back rest frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,631,440 Turner June 7, 1927 2,190,401 Croy Feb. 13, 1940 2,312,638 Gedris Mar. 2, 1943 2,336,128 Ronk Dec. 7, 1943 2,592,872 Douglas Apr. 15, 1952 2,745,467 Vale n. May 15, 1956 2,828,803 Howe et a1. Apr. 1, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,000,668 September 19 1961 Howard D. Croy It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 45 linesl54 and 56, for "home", each occurrence read base Signed and sealed this 20th day of February 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

